USCA 9th - Longshore Settlement Unenforceable if Not Signed

The US Court of Appeals for the 9th District recently ruled that a settlement under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act was unenforceable if the decedent injured worker had not signed it. In O'neil v. Bunge Corp. (04/23/04 - No. 02-71248), O'Neil suffered a work-related myocardial infarction on March 18, 1980, and began receiving permanent partial disability compensation pursuant to a compensation order issued on August 2, 1983. In 1998, O'Neil through his attorney began negotiations with the Bunge Corporation ("Bunge"), his former employer, for a settlement that would pa...